Emergency escape panel



Jan. 15, 1946. PELAEZ v 2,392,874

EMERGENCY ESCAPE PANEL Filed May 12, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 6 2 6. I .7 v 6 3 m \\\\ll v Jan. 15, 1946.

EMERGENCY ESCAPE PANEL Fi led May 12, 1944 2 Shgets-Sheet 2 M. E. PELAEZI 1 2,392,874

Patented Jan. 15, 1946 .7

UNITED A 2,392,874 EMERGENCY ESCAPE PANEL 1 Manuel Eduardo Pelaez, Burzaco, Argentina Application May 12, 1944, Serial No. 535,364 'In Argentina May 24, 1943 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improved means for demountably supporting an emergency escape panel unit in the frame of openings in general,

and in particular of the openings of passenger vehicles, and an essential object of the invention consists in providing a combination of elements for readily and speedily performing the separation or withdrawal of a panel from its frame, leaving the opening confined by the same entirely free from obstruction.

. The arrangement of the connecting device in accordance with this invention is particularly adapted for use in collective motor cars, omnibuses and similar vehicles for the conveyance of passengers, for providing a means-of eventual escape and thus avoid the unfortunate consequences to which the occupants of such vehicles may be exposed in case of overturning, collision, fire and other accidents of transit.

In the present case, the connectingmeans or device which forms the object of this invention, may be applied to any opening formedin the body or in the roof of the vehicle and the respective panel or panels may be combined with window panes, forming apart of the same win dows, so as to allow, in case of emergency, the complete separation or removal of apart or of all of said windows.

It will, of course be apparent, that the connecting system in accordance with this invention may be adapted to serve as a means for closing doors, windows or any other kind of openings in buildings or other. fixed constructions.

The invention also has in view other objects which will more fully appear in the'lcourse of the following description of the same;

' fixed brackets 4, of conveniently bent shape, with- Figure 5 is a cross section and elevation of the foregoing figure, in which the arrangement of said windows in their closed position may be seen, and

showing the manner of performing complete removal of said windows.

The same reference characters have been used to indicate like or corresponding parts in the several figures. v v,

, In the formof construction shown in Figures 1 to 3, a fixed main frame 1, preferably of rectangular shape, is used for being permanently affixed by any suitable or convenient r'neans to the corresponding opening; 7 v Y The said main frame I is preferably constructed of L-shap-ed iron or of other suitable profile in cross section, to enable the same to accommodate in its interior an internal secondary removable locking frame 2, preferably of cylindrical cross section,'conveniently supported on the shims or dowels 3 arranged on the horizontal wing ofthe frame I, said removable frame 2 being intended to be carried by a cover or panel Hi.

When referring to the drawings it will. further be seen that the removable frame is provided with in each of which is slidably mounted a bolt formed by a rod 5, adapted.to be received, after the manner of a shutter bolt, in'the interior of tubular socket or keeper members 6, formed in tegral with the frame I, so as to maintain said elements I and 2 assembled one with the other.

In order that the invention may be; clearly illustrative drawings, in which+ Figure 1 is a front elevation showinglthe rela- 1 tion of the several elements which constitute the improved connecting device in accordance with this invention. v v

Figure 2 is a partial detail of the conjoint, in its position of closure.

Figure 3 is an elevation, partially sectional,

which illustrates the application of the assembly j Each pair of rods 5, arranged on the same axis, are linkedby means of connecting rods, Ito the opposite ends of two actuating bars 8, of which the central points are pivoted, in turn, to two levers 9, also pivotally connected together by means of a stud It or the like. 1

Under normal conditions, the'bolts 5 are maintainedv in retracted position by heavy springs H or the like, suitably interposed between the ends of the brackets 4 and 'pins lz securedto said bolts. When referring to said figures it will also be seen that at the jointed ends of the bolts 5, bars 8 and levers 9, small stops or retention'lugs I3 are provided, for the purpose of limiting the turning movement of said elements, until each of the same are placed in rectilinear alinement in relation to its adjacent members. On the other hand, on one of the toggle levers 9, a small tubular member I4 is slidably arranged, the purpose of which will be explained later on.

The mainframe l is intended, for instance, to be placed in a suitable opening formed in'the roof Figure 6 is anothereross section and elevation g2; g5: 2,392,874 e r l5 of a vehicle for transporting passengers. As In Figures 4 and 5, all the panels or windows shown in Figure 3, this may be a tight friction are shown in their position of closure.

fit, or conventional fastenings may be used to In case of accident, it will be suflicient to pull anchor the frame to the roof structure. the controller bar 21 in a downward direction, as

As will be further seen from Figure 3, a remov- 8 indicated by the arrow in Figure 4, thereby causable cover l6 of any appropriate type, and coning the rotation of the connecting link 25 about veniently shaped to prevent the entrance of rain its centre so that it will drag the bars 25 in conor dust into the vehicle, and carrying the locking verging directions, whereupon the rods 24, inframe 2, is placed over the fixed main frame I tegral with the same, will release the tubular withthe'bolts pr latchesrgi'injoperativeirelation to 10 members 23 of .the-*f rames 2.,;and;thus cause the the socketsfis l 1} disengagement and consequent fall of the these In order to connect the frame 2 carried by the said frames in an outward direction, as shown in cover IS with the main frame I, the connecting detail in Figure 6, and leaving entirely free the rods I are swung in an outward direetiom-by the eiuopenings previously occupied by said frames. movement of the toggle links 99 into alinement The arrangement above described and shown thereby causing the barsdl-td'aline-witlrthe bolts 'n the accompanying drawings may be adapted, or latches 5-5 as indicatedlby the.dot and dash neweithenof its forms, to any kind of openings lines in Figure 1 and shownindetail inlFigure' 2. of doors,"windows, or to fixed constructions of When the bolts 5 are projected outwardly by the any kind.

connecting rods 1, they overcome'flthestension of' From the foregoing description, the nature and are thespringsJLand thecouter endsnof -said bolts, Y operation of ,this inventionyvill have fully been i ,2 ilyvillbegcaused toiadvancevandl enter'Minto-Jthe tui understood and ndfurthBr exhlanations will be bular; members-5,. whereby thewpartsif hand 2 will requirediby those skilledin the art.

be securely engaged one with another. It. will be evident that,seyeraljmodifications of v. The. rotation .of thecconnectine rods?! with ref: X iconstru t on an ldetailmaybain roducefd, with- 5;, 'garjdto their adjacentelementstislimited by the out.-denart e .f 0 basic. p i iple. and scope "st p u v ,j J-iof this inventi n, torbe.f;clear y s t fo th n t .i ....In this,positipn the.lversla mlljalso be ar-i" ni'claimsannexed to thisspecification.

W. rances, alongahtriightline perpendicular to the Z I. claim:

connecting-rods 1, as shownin .ctotiarididaslr lines 1. An emer ncy, e cape; pan or ina e ,e in Figure 1, iniwhich position e the .tubjular sleeve avehicles and thelike, comprising a main frame- .J Mflisshifted .untihcoverinatbe. common Joint lfl,.f -,.iadapted flOIhQ fitted in, an-op nin inlay 0 his,ewherebyithe. entiretcoveruassemblyiwillbe held, roof: of. the vehicle,mea sl niihe, ma n frame .W csecure, init's positiononclosure. v forming two,.transyerselygopposite sets; of in- In case of accidentiii bwilljfilfillifipi nt to re-ii gilwa'rdly, acinakceper sockets, aclosiireloa l f r e .l sethe joint llbetweentheglev sd; whereby, ooperatin .with aid. main-.afram agsec ry .th'ese. lattertwillnby the'actionqof thejpr gs It, .imme. carr ed. yith inne -iace,of.the; p n and instantaneously be; carried to theposition shown c fittingmith nithe mainsiramawtran vers Pairs in Fi ure. ,1; Un,der these cond t bns,;the; l sur f ts carried:bvithesecpndary ra e-i npanel lfiwhichicarriesthaftaxfie 2=wii1"be. dis ;on: v gaei.ng anddisene sins said eper sockets,

chested fromitheuframe-qlg. leavin the opening, jgspr o s. for aut mat cally.t ainer-said bolts away 31 ofthenassengers'.

5i f;tofethesametotallyiireeiiorallowin'g,of the escape, from ,said sockets, ;and means ,fo1' spoiling the i. .1 boltsfand..h lin t em,inrlatchin irelat n t r: desired; andjn order tozbejable 'tornp at s. L' a dike n r s ck ts ins c r t i c osure pan ;the mechanism frbmjoutside, there'may be pro 7 to the mainiframe,,said.,means,comprisin'g a pair "'1 vided orrthe roof. a; small'additiqnal opening; offparallel, actuator bars, connecting ,rods piv- "i, 11, adapted tojbe' clo'sed by'asmall sliding door, if'otally connecting,theendsofsaid bars jyvith the HL'througIi which a'ccess'may be had'tothe slidends of said bolts, 'andmediallyjointed toggle .ablemember: l4'iwhich when shifted away from leverspivotally connected atth'eir ont'erends with "the jointIfliautom'aticallyreleases"the;locking said bars. flfi mechanismy t i 1 i 2. An emergency escape;panel i passenger -The modified-construetion shown in -Figures 4 yehicles' andithelike, comprising,, a main frame --to 6; consistsin that theirame-l of plane 'conadapted tOlbQ fitted in, an, Opening ,injjagwall or -------figuration' and is slightly "chamfered at its upper roof of the'vehicle, meansponthe main frame para-allowing;at-the-required moments-of totally forming two transversely opposite sets of inward- W disengagingthe frame'htowards oiie'ofi-ts sides, 1y facing keeper sockets, a, closure,pane1,for cooperating with said mainframe, a secondary as showmin detail'iml igure 6.

x V xIn this case,-" the; f-rames= 2 replace the usual framecarried by'the inner face: o frthe; panel and wind'ows ofa vehicle of'any kind, for which pun-" fittingwithinl the mainframe; transyerse pairs of pose the respective window framesls areslidably; bolts carriedby-the secondary frame fqr engaging mounted therein; beingmbnnectedtogiether iii ses and disengaging said 'keeper'sockets springs for rice on-their outer'side-bythe guardrods 26). automatically :urgin-g said bolts: away from said -'The frames 2zare provided-j at their 'lower and- *sockets, -;{and' means for "mm/1115:1118 bolts and inner: edges with zlugsi zl; for-resting against the ----holding-them inflatchingrelationtosaid; keeper -.-:inter1nal=part. .oi; thefb'odyzlg so as: to 'prevent the" --sockets to secure the-closure panel to-the main same from-slidingeoutwards at their-upper and frame, said means comprisingapa-ir ;gfparallel H inner. edges,""said: -frames tare provided-with tuactuator bars,=-con-necting rods pi-votally conbular members?23g iwithin which are mounted necting the ends of said bars with-the ends of 5 small rodsld ,forzslidingaftemhe mannerof shut "said bolts,--and=means for manually and positive- .ter bolts; beingiconyeniently connected togetherg "-ly moving said bars and rods into 'rectilinear in suitablezgrqupsor. series by means:-'of bars 25;-lflalinementWiththe bolts when'the ba rs and rods slidablyzmountednatizthe;einteriorcofnthe vehicle move the bolts to -latching-positionmeaid means ,hody said ebarszx25, being OOI'IHBCtGiiiiH turn, to i wheninitially-subjected tomanual pressure meaneoscillatorycconneetingrlinkifi; adapted to b diallythereofrtendingto be collapsedby-the force 3 sa'iswiun zbstazcontroller bar;-2:l.,;"preferably mountw aied ataicentralzpart ofatheivehicle.

:16: ofthe springs-aotingeon 'the bolts, and*in-turn on the rods and bars to efieeti'automatic 'iinlocking of the secondary frame and closure panel from the main frame.

3. An emergency escape panel for passenger vehicles and the like, comprising, a main frame adapted to be fitted in an opening in a wall or roof of the vehicle, means on the main frame forming two transversely opposite sets of inwardly facing keeper sockets, a closure panel for cooperation with said main frame, a secondary frame carried by the inner face of the panel and fitting within the main frame, two sets of transversely opposite inwardly extending brackets on the secondary frame having guideways alined with the related keeper sockets, bolts slidable in said guideways, springs for urging said bolts to retracted relation with respect to said sockets, a pair of bolt-actuating bars disposed parallel to each other and also disposed in planes parallel to but inwardly offset from the axial planes of opposite bolts, connecting rods pivotally joining the ends of said bars to the inner ends of adjacent bolts, means on said rods cooperating with said bolts and bars for limiting the angular movement of the bars, and a pair of medially jointed toggle levers pivoted at their outer ends to said bars, said levers when rectilinearly alined moving said bars outwardly to turn the said rods and push the bolts into locking relation to said sockets, thereby to lock the secondary frame and panel to the main frame and also move the bars and rods into rectilinear axial alinement with said bolts, and said levers, when initially manually urged to broken angular relation, being forced by said springs to full broken position to turn the inner ends of the connecting rods away from the bolts to enable the springs to move them out of the sockets and free the secondary frame and closure panel from the main frame.

MANUEL EDUARDO PELAEZ. 

